Method and device for trimming for facade or roof of a building

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a hollow panel being fixed to the structure of a building, and reactive to thermal radiation, namely solar radiation, including, between a first face being oriented towards a first environment and a second face being oriented towards a second environment, at least one internal fluid-circulation channel, namely air channel, extending between a first opening located at a first end edge and a second opening located at a second end edge, the internal channel extending between at least a perforated first receiver being exposed to thermal radiation on the side of first face and at least a second air-tight receiver on the side of second face and formed by a condenser, wherein the first receiver and the condenser are formed of a flexible web, namely textile web.

RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a method for cladding a frontage or roof of abuilding, according to which at least one perforated first receiver isarranged at a distance of a second receiver applied against thestructure of said building or formed by said structure, so as topreserve between said second receiver and said perforated first receiverclosest to the latter an air-circulation channel.

The invention also relates to a hollow panel designed capable of beingfixed to the structure of a building, and reactive to thermal radiation,namely solar radiation, including, between a first face designed capableof being oriented towards a first environment and a second face designedcapable of being oriented towards a second environment, at least oneinternal fluid-circulation channel, namely air channel, extendingbetween a first opening located at a first end edge and a second openinglocated at a second end edge, said internal channel extending between,on the one hand, at least a perforated first receiver designed capableof being exposed to thermal radiation on the side of said first faceand, on the other hand, at least a second air-tight receiver on the sideof said second face.

The invention also relates to a condenser designed capable of formingsaid second receiver.

The invention also relates to a device for fixing and tensioning saidfirst receptor.

The present invention falls within the building sector, both for newconstruction and for renovation.

The invention relates in particular to the external paneling for, forfrontage or roof, and in particular the search for optimizing the energyrelationship between the inside and the outside of the building.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98.

Energy saving is the main concern of the building designers. The use ofnatural resources, such as solar energy, is known, essentially in theform of electric-energy producing photovoltaic panels, or in the form ofsolar panels with water circulation.

Most applications of this type relate to roof equipment, and most oftenon the roof, which results into the necessity to reinforce theframework, high costs and a poor esthetical appearance.

Few installations use vertical frontage surfaces. Now, though theirorientation with respect to the sun rays may prove less favorable thanan inclined roof, the developed area of the frontages oriented towardsthe sun is large and under-utilized.

The aim of the invention is to cope with the drawbacks of the state ofthe art by proposing to incorporate functionalities, namely energyfunctionalities, through implementing a method for cladding a frontageor covering a building permitting to replace the skin of a building orto line it, this method implementing reversible elements easy to beassembled and integrating particular energy receivers and collectors, soas to form an active device easily accessible for maintenance andcapable of exerting a regulating action on the temperature inside abuilding, so as to permit an important energy saving.

The invention is aimed in particular at improving the thermal efficiencyof a frontage or roof cladding and at adapting same to the parameters ofits environment, namely the seasonal and weather parameters. Thisadapting should be achievable through an easy exchange of removablecomponents of a low unit cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the invention relates to a hollow panel designed capable ofbeing fixed to the structure of a building, and reactive to thermalradiation, namely solar radiation, including, between a first facedesigned capable of being oriented towards a first environment and asecond face designed capable of being oriented towards a secondenvironment, at least one internal fluid-circulation channel, namely airchannel, extending between a first opening located at a first end edgeand a second opening located at a second end edge, said internal channelextending between, on the one hand, at least a perforated first receiverdesigned capable of being exposed to thermal radiation on the side ofsaid first face and, on the other hand, at least a second air-tightreceiver on the side of said second face and formed by a condenser, thefirst receiver and the condenser being formed by a flexible web, namelytextile web.

According to a feature of the invention, said perforated first receiveris incorporated into a hollow panel designed capable of beingincorporated into an external cladding device formed by juxtaposing suchpanels.

According to another feature of the invention, said perforated firstreceiver is chosen flexible, and it is tensioned applied in front ofsaid frontage or cover by means of at least one device for fixing andtensioning a flexible web incorporated into said perforated firstreceiver, or forming same.

The invention also relates to a hollow panel designed capable of beingfixed to the structure of a building, and reactive to thermal radiation,namely solar radiation, including, between a first face designed capableof being oriented towards a first environment and a second face designedcapable of being oriented towards a second environment, at least oneinternal fluid-circulation channel, namely air channel, extendingbetween a first opening located at a first end edge and a second openinglocated at a second end edge, said internal channel extending between,on the one hand, at least a perforated first receiver designed capableof being exposed to thermal radiation on the side of said first faceand, on the other hand, at least a second air-tight receiver on the sideof said second face.

The invention also relates to a condenser (110) designed capable offorming such a second receiver.

The invention also relates to a such a device for fixing and tensioningsuch a flexible web.

The invention also relates to a condenser for a panel reactive tothermal radiation, namely solar radiation.

The invention permits to change both the external appearance and thethermal performances of a building, for the staff's security and for aneasy and cost-effective implementation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the invention will become clear fromthe following detailed description of non-restrictive embodiments of theinvention, when referring to the attached figures.

FIG. 1 is a schematic, partial and perspective view of a cladding deviceformed of several panels according to the invention, shown separated inorder to facilitate the understanding.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, seen from the side in the directionX.

FIG. 3 is a schematic, partial and cross-sectional view of a set ofpanels according to the invention, installed inside a building, and ofthe associated air flows.

FIG. 4 is a schematic, partial and cross-sectional view of a panelaccording to the invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic and cross-sectional view of a panel according tothe invention, and the various air flows in this panel.

FIG. 6 is a schematic and perspective view of the structure of a panelaccording to the invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic, partial and perspective view of a cladding deviceformed of several panels according to the invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic and perspective view of a first face, thestructure of a condenser forming a second receiver in a preferredembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic and perspective view of the structure of FIG. 8,at the level of the face opposite the previous one.

FIG. 10 is a schematic, partial and cross-sectional view of a variant ofFIG. 4.

FIG. 11 is a schematic and perspective view of a panel according to theinvention, with a mounted flexible web.

FIG. 12 is a schematic, partial and perspective view of part of themeans for tensioning a flexible web according to the invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic, partial and perspective view of a zone forinserting a flexible web into a panel according to the invention.

FIG. 14 is similar to FIG. 13, according to another angle.

FIG. 15 is a schematic, partial and perspective view of a variant ofthis insertion zone.

FIG. 16 is a schematic, partial and front view of the insertion zone ofFIGS. 13 and 14.

FIG. 17 is a schematic, partial and top view according to a line normalto a flat surface of a variant of the panel according to the invention,with a mounted flexible web.

FIG. 18 is a schematic and vertical cross-sectional view of a device forcladding a frontage in a particular embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 19 is a schematic and horizontal cross-sectional view according toCC of a variant embodiment of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 19 of another variant embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a schematic and elevational view of an assembling oftranslucent panels the embodiment of FIG. 18 includes.

FIG. 22 is a schematic and elevational view of tools for placing theflexible web the embodiment of FIG. 18 includes.

FIG. 23 illustrates another variant of placing and tensioning of such aflexible web.

FIGS. 24 through 27 illustrate yet another variant of placing andtensioning such a flexible web, FIG. 24 in a partially perspective view,FIG. 25 in an elevational view, and FIGS. 26 and 27 in a side view fromthe plane of the flexible web.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring According to a method for cladding a frontage or covering abuilding, at least a perforated first receiver 50 is arranged at adistance from a second receiver 51 applied onto the structure of saidbuilding or formed by said structure, so as to preserve, between saidsecond receiver 51 and said perforated first receiver 50 closest to thelatter, an air-circulation channel 3, wherein such a perforated firstreceiver 50 is chosen removable and including a flexible web 203 orformed by such a flexible web 203.

In a first embodiment, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 through 7, theperforated first receiver 50 is incorporated into a panel 1. Theinvention then permits cladding the frontage or covering the buildingthrough the construction of an external cladding device 100 formed bythe juxtaposition of panels 1.

In a second embodiment, as can be seen in FIGS. 10 through 17, theperforated first receiver 50 is flexible, and is tensioned appliedagainst the front of the structure or the cover, or the existingcladding of the building, by means of at least one device 201 forsecuring and tensioning a flexible web 203 incorporated into theperforated first receiver 50, or forming same.

The second embodiment can be combined with the first one, the device 201being arranged either so as to cover the surface formed by an assemblingof panels 1, or to cover the surface of one panel 1, the cladding device100 then including as many devices 201 as there are panels 1.

In the first embodiment, the panel 1 is hollow. This panel 1 is designedcapable of being fixed to the structure of a building, and is reactiveto thermal radiation, in particular to solar radiation, facing which itis aimed at being placed. The external device 100 for cladding abuilding, on the frontage or the roof, includes a set of hollow panels1. The latter are preferably substantially flat or have all an identicalcurvature. In particular, they can adopt the shape of parallelepipeds,or also prisms according to a cylindrical sector, with a constantcurvature radius. These hollow panels 1 can be piled according to adirection Z, preferably vertical direction.

This panel 1 includes a first face 2 designed capable of being orientedtowards a first environment A, in particular the outer side of abuilding or a warm source, and a second face 10 designed capable ofbeing oriented towards a second environment B, in particular the innerside of a building or a zone to be heated.

Depending on the shape of the structure of the building to be providedwith such panels 1, different configurations are possible as to thegeometry of this first face 2. In the most usual embodiment, the firstface 2 is flat. The first face 2 can also have a constant curvature inat least one direction. In a variant, the first face 2 has a firstconstant curvature in a first direction, and a second constant curvaturein a second direction orthogonal to said first direction, whereby thisfirst curvature and this second curvature can have identical ordifferent values.

In its most usual embodiment, the panel 1 has a parallelepipedal shape.

The panel 1 includes, between its first face 2 and its second face 10,at least one internal fluid-circulation channel 3, namely air channel.This channel 3 extends between a first opening 5 located at a first endedge 4 of the panel 1, and a second opening 7 located at a second endedge 6. Preferably, this first opening 5 and this second opening 7 arelocated one above the other, or vice-versa.

According to the invention, the internal channel 3 extends between, onthe one hand, at least a perforated first receiver 50 designed capableof being exposed to thermal radiation on the side of the first face 2and, on the other hand, at least a second air-tight receiver 51 on theside of said second face 10.

In a particular application preferred within the framework of theinvention, the perforated receiving panel 50 forms itself the first face2.

The perforated first receiver 50 is designed capable of transformingthermal radiation, namely of solar origin, through reflection or/andtransmission or/and absorption.

This first receiver 50 stops a first portion of the radiation of theheat source, in particular solar heat, namely through reflection, and,thanks to its perforation, lets pass a second portion to the secondreceiver 51. The first receiver 50 can absorb part of the heat, and heatup, the transmission of energy to the second receiver 51 thus occurs inthe channel 3, either by direct passing through or by radiation from thefirst receiver 50 towards the second receiver 51. If the latter reflectspart of the energy, the first receiver 50 forms a barrier impeding thereturn. The essential portion of the energy received from the firstenvironment A thus remains in the channel 3.

One understands that the notion of perforation should be taken in abroad meaning, the perforation permits the passing through of a certainquantity of air, at the same time as part of the thermal radiation. Theperforation of the first receiver 1 can indifferently be formed bydrilled holes, cuts, orifices, spaces between the strands of a non-woventextile cloth, spaces between the weft and de warp threads of a textilecloth or a woven, metal or plastic mesh, or the like.

Preferably and advantageously, the first receiver 50 is removable, andcan be adapted for example according to the weather conditions, namelyseasonal conditions, and the panel 1 includes recesses for itspositioning and its fixing.

In an advantageous embodiment, the first receiver 50 includes, in itsthickness, through openings that are designed capable of permitting thedirect passing of the light rays up to a given incidence with respect tothe normal line to the spot considered, and to impede same beyond saidincidence. One understands that, if the first receiver 50 extends in asubstantially vertical direction, for a use facing the solar radiation,these through openings permit the passing through of the solar radiationin winter, low above the horizon, in a context in which one tries to useits energy to heat up an inner volume, while, on the other hand, theyare a hindrance for the solar radiation in summer, close to the zenith,and limit the penetration of the solar energy into the panel.

In a variant embodiment, the first receiver 50 includes protrudingvolumes designed capable of conveying the air to the channel 3.Preferably, these protruding elements are set back with respect to thefirst face 2 towards the interior of the panel 1, so as not to catchneither the clothes of the people passing by nor the elements suspendedin the air such as dead leaves or similar.

These protruding elements form an air sleeve, and can be namely in theform of a tubular bend, of a spherical dome or the like. This sleeveincludes an opening, which can be oriented towards the floor, in orderto avoid filling the panel with rain water. It can also be orientedotherwise, namely so as to avoid the introduction of dust. Preferably,the panel 1, or/and the structure 100, includes means for collecting andevacuating rain water and eventual condensates.

Preferably, the first receiver 50 is formed of a tensioned flexible web203, namely textile web. This configuration offers the advantage of anextremely low weight and a very easy exchange. Preferably, the recessesthe panel 1 includes for its positioning and its fixing are accessiblein situ, without requiring the complete removal of the panel 1.

Advantageously, the first receiver 50, or/and the second receiver 51,includes, on at least one of its faces, a coating by means of asilkscreen process, printing or the like. This coating can namely bechosen reflecting, for determined wavelengths, according to the seasonor/and the weather conditions.

For applications of decontamination of the air circulating through thechannel 3 of the panel 1, the first receiver 50 or the second receiver51 can receive a coating including nano-scale titanium oxide TiO2, oranother catalyst also designed capable of enhancing the transformationof the so-called COV volatile organic compounds into inoffensiveelements, or also of CO into CO2, or of NO into NO2.

Besides the technical functions specific to the first receiver 50 setforth above, this receiver can receive a particular decoration, which isparticularly easy when it is formed of a woven and/or printed and orsilkscreen printed textile web. In addition to the possibility ofvarying at a low cost the appearance of the building wall comes thepossibility of integrating into same visual safety messages, or alsoadvertising messages. The application of camouflage decorations formilitary applications or for implantations in protected areas is veryeasy, the more that the panel 1 according to the invention does notrequire any external panes, even though it is possible to install someat the level of the first face 2.

In a first variant embodiment, the first perforated receiving means 50is intercalated between the channel 3 and the first face 2.

In another variant embodiment, the first perforated receiving means 50is applied onto the first face 2 outside the panel 1.

In another variant embodiment, the first receiver 50 is translucent. Itcan also be formed of a plate, and namely of a translucent plate. It canbe formed of a translucent and perforated flexible film.

In yet another variant embodiment, the first receiver 50 includes atleast one surface treated by sand blowing or chemical attack. Thistreatment by sand blowing or chemical attack can be applied irrespectiveof the configuration of the first receiver, even textile receiver, andresults into increasing the exchange surface.

This channel 3 is designed capable of communicating, at the level of thefirst opening 5 or/and the second opening 7, with an internal channel 3of another hollow panel 1 of the same type, or also with means forcommunicating between the airstream formed by the channel 3 and thevolume of a part, which may be formed of deflectors or the like. It isthus possible to build, based on panels 1, a partition with a verticalcomponent including a continuous channel over its full height, inparticular for the air circulation. Such a piling results, as aconsequence of the increase of the height of the wall, into increasingthe convective effect.

The panel 1 can be carried out in various variants; in particular, thechannel 3 can be designed capable of communicating, on the one hand,with the first environment A through at least a first communicationexternal opening 8 or/and, on the other hand, with the secondenvironment B through at least a first internal communication opening 9.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the hollow panels 1 canalso be juxtaposed to each other in a direction X perpendicular to thevertical direction Z and the tangent to the first faces 2 of the panels1.

This tangential, or lateral, juxtaposition permits, by increasing thewidth of the wall, to increase the flow rate of the fluid, namely air,circulating inside the panels.

In another embodiment of the invention, the panels 1 can also bejuxtaposed, in another direction Y perpendicular to both the verticaldirection Z and the direction X, with other panels 1 of the same type orwith second insulation panels 101. In this case, the insulation panels101 can each include at least one through opening 11, which is designedcapable of being juxtaposed to a first internal communication opening 9of a panel 1 if the latter includes some. Of course, an insulating panel101 can include as many openings, in the extension of the latter, as thepanel 1 to which it is adjacent, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.

One understands that the juxtaposition of insulating panels, over thethickness of an external building wall, permits to increase the thermalinertia of this wall.

Preferably, the channel 3 includes at a first end edge 4 a firstso-called external communication opening 8 towards the first environmentA and a first so-called internal communication opening 9 towards thesecond environment B. Likewise, it includes at the second end edge 6 asecond so-called external communication opening 13 towards the firstenvironment A and a second so-called internal communication opening 14towards the second environment B.

In an advantageous variant for a home-automation treatment, at least oneof the internal 9 or/and 14, or/and external openings 8 or/and 13, thechannel 3 includes is designed capable of being closed, namely byclosing means controlled by driving means.

Any panel 1 can include all or part, even no side openings, but shouldinclude the channel 3.

A panel 1, or a piling of such panels 1, including such lower and upperopenings towards the first environment A and the second environment Bcan advantageously be used, as can be seen in FIG. 5, depending on theopenings one uses, depending on the weather, hour conditions, and thetemperature differentials between the first so-called externalenvironment A and the second so-called internal environment B. Theoccultation of the openings 9 and 14 promotes an external-external flow40. The occultation of the openings 9 and 13 promotes anexternal-internal flow 41. The occultation of the openings 8 and 13promotes an internal-internal flow 42. The occultation of the openings 8and 14 promotes an internal-external flow 40.

One thus understands that it is thus possible, depending on thecircumstances, to regulate the temperature of an internal environment B.

The piling of the panels 1 permits to form a column of a large height,compared to that of each panel, which permits to ensure a certaindraught, thus an air renewal at a large flow rate inside the internalenvironment B. One aim of the invention is to permit to obtain a largetemperature differential between the air flowing in at the lower portionof the piling of panels 1, and the air flowing out at the upper portionof this piling.

Preferably, on at least one panel 1 reactive to solar radiation isintegrated into a cladding device 100, which can then be used as anenergy regulator for the environment B internal to the building.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, in a particular arrangement, at least onepanel 1 includes at least one skew opening 15 between the channel 3 andthe second face 10, preferably arranged ascending obliquely towards theinternal environment B, and which is so dimensioned as to permit thepassing through of a portion smaller than a certain portion of the flowrate of the fluid circulating in the channel 3, in particular smallerthan 25%. This opening 15 permits to generate an ascending air stream 44in the environment B, flowing alongside the wall formed by the pilingor/and the juxtaposition of panels 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, at the level of asecond face 10 these panels include. This ascending air stream 44 drawsthe air located in the vicinity of the floor 48, and creates adestratification flow 45. In the upper portion of the room, asubstantially horizontal partition 46 can be provided between the volumeof the environment B and the area of outflow, through the upper internalopening 14C of the panel 1C located in the upper position, of an airflow 49 circulating in the channel 3 common to the panels 1, 1A, 1B, 1C.This partition 46 brings the flow 45 and the flow 49 back at the levelof a mouthpiece 47 where their junction occurs, and which tends to sendback to the floor 48 a flow 90.

One understands that, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the event oneor several insulation panels 101 are applied, on the side of the secondinternal environment B, against a panel 1, they also include obliqueopenings 15A in the extension of such an oblique opening 15. Of course,this oblique opening 15 can have a double function, namely serve as asecond opening 14.

Preferably, the hollow panel 1 includes, at its first end edge 4,respectively at its second end edge 6, a first strip 16, respectively asecond strip 17, including first bearing and guiding means 18,respectively second bearing and guiding means 19, designed capable ofpermitting its assembling through piling with another hollow panel 1 ofthe same type. This strip 16, respectively 17, includes a bearing andtightness surface 20, respectively 21, for tightly juxtaposing the firstopening 5, respectively the second opening 7, of the panel 1, with thesecond opening 7, respectively the first opening 5, of an adjacent panel1, as can be seen in FIG. 3, at the junction between the second opening7A of the panel 1A, and the first opening 5B of the panel 1B.

The first bearing and guiding means 18 and the second ones 19 canadvantageously be made either of a profile complementary to each otheror of a profile identical to each other. In the latter case, thisprofile is designed capable of cooperating with a complementary profilea wall rail fixed to the structure of a building, to which the panel 1is fixed, includes. The positioning, bearing and guiding are thencarried out by such a wall rail. In the case of juxtaposition of panels1, these are mounted on both sides of such wall rails. Advantageously,the fixing of the panels to such a connecting part incorporates afunction of locking in position. One can also imagine the case in whichthis wall rail includes different profiles on both sides in order todistinguish for example lower supports and upper supports and to form apositioning guide for the mounting of panels, whereby the latter mustthen include a lower profile different from an upper profile, as regardsthe first and second bearing and guiding means 18 and 19. However, inorder to rationalize the components and to lower the costs, theseprofiles are preferably identical to each other.

In an advantageous embodiment, the first strip 16, respectively thesecond strip 17, includes a first bearing surface 22, respectively asecond bearing surface 23, which is designed capable of cooperating withhoop means 80 for closing or/and fixing the panel 1, in particular forclosing or/and fixing a peripheral structure 55 forming a structureframe of the panel 1, to which the first face 2 and the second face 10are fixed. Indeed, such a panel 1 can include several removableelements, namely the first receiver 50.

It is then interesting, in a particular version including extractablepanels 1, to be able, after an at least partial extraction of the panel1 from the assembly it is part of, to remove an element and to replaceit by another one.

This permits, indeed, a change of utilization of the panel 1 during itslife. In order to facilitate this intervention, which is preferablyperformed in situ, the panel 1 includes a removable structure, includingthe first strip 16 and the second strip 17, as well as eventual sidestrips referred to as first 53 and second 54 cross strips, on side faces33 and 34, on both sides of the second face 10 and of the first face 2,which preferably form the largest surfaces of the panel 1. Theconnection of these strips and these cross strips is advantageouslycarried out by means of one or several straps 80 tensioned at theperiphery of the panel 1. The bearing surfaces 22 and 23 are preferablygrooves designed capable of receiving the strap or straps 80, eitherdirectly or through elastic materials. Means for tensioning the strap,namely by means of an eccentric, are advantageously integrated directlyinto the panel 1, at the level of one of its strips or of its eventualside cross strips.

In the usual case in which the panel 1 includes, serving as a supportfor the first face 2 and the second face 10, a four-side peripheralstructure 55, the first strip 16 and the second strip 17 are united, atthe level of their ends, by a first 53 and a second 54 side cross strip,connecting at first ends and at second ends, respectively, the first endedge 4 to the second end edge 6. A side cross strip 53, respectively 54,can include a first side opening 35, respectively a second side opening36. In a particular embodiment, each side cross strip 53, 54 includes aside opening 35, 36.

It should be noted that the panel 1 does not always include side crossstrips. Indeed, in a common application for treating a frontage or aroof over a full width, the channel 3 can be designed capable ofcommunicating, at the level of at least one side face 33, 34,substantially perpendicular to the first end edge 4 or the second endedge 6, through a side opening 35, with a side opening another panel 1of the same type includes, for its putting into communication with aninternal channel 3 of this other panel 1. This side opening 35 can, ascan be seen in FIG. 1, occupy the whole of the side face of a panel 1.

In order to be able to exert an action on the flow of the fluid, namelyair, passing through the channel 3, and to transform, or reject,according to user's choice, the energy of solar origin, the hollow panel1 preferably includes, between the channel 3 and a second face 10designed capable of being oriented towards the second so-called internalenvironment B, and arranged in this order starting from the channel 3,thermal exchange means 28, energy accumulating means 29, reflectingmeans 30. This panel 1 is also capable of containing, between thereflecting means 30 and the second face 10, insulating means 31.

The second receiver 51 is formed of all or part of these thermalexchange means 28, energy accumulating means 29, reflecting means 30,insulating means 31.

Preferably, the thermal exchange means 28 are formed of the secondreceiver 51, or incorporated into the latter.

Advantageously, the second receiver 51 is mounted in a substantiallyvertical plane and includes, oriented towards the first face 2, a volumeprofile, which is designed capable of maximizing the drop shadow fromthe sun in summer under strong incidences with respect to the normalline of the second receiver 51, and to minimize the drop shadow from thesun in winter under low incidences with respect to the normal line ofthe second receiver 51.

Preferably, this second receiver 51 is formed of a condenser 110. Thelatter can also form thermal exchange means 28, or/and energyaccumulating means 29, or/and reflecting means 30, or/and insulatingmeans 31. In a preferred version, this condenser 110 is flexible.

This condenser 110 includes a first face 112 designed capable of beingoriented towards thermal radiation, in particular the outer side of abuilding or a heat source, and in particular the solar radiation.

This condenser 110 is preferably air-tight.

It is also designed capable of reflecting part of the energy.

Preferably and advantageously, the condenser 110 is removable, and canbe adapted for example according to the weather conditions, and thepanel 1 includes recesses for its positioning and its fixing.

Preferably, the condenser 110 is formed of a tensioned textile web 203,with the same coating and decoration possibilities as the first receiver50. This configuration has the advantage of an extremely low weight, anda very easy replacement.

For applications of decontamination of the air circulating along itsfirst face 112, the condenser 110 can receive a coating includingnano-scale titanium oxide TiO2, or another catalyst also designedcapable of enhancing the transformation of the so-called COV volatileorganic compounds into inoffensive elements, or also of CO into CO2, orof NO into NO2.

In a variant embodiment, the condenser 110 is translucent. It can alsobe formed of a plate, and namely of a translucent plate.

In yet another variant embodiment, the condenser 110 includes at leastone surface treated by sand blowing or chemical attack. This treatmentby sand blowing or chemical attack can be applied irrespective of theconfiguration of the condenser 110, even textile condenser, and resultsinto increasing the exchange surface.

In order to be able to exert an action on the flow of the fluid, namelyair, alongside the first face 112 of the condenser 110, and totransform, or reject, according to user's choice, the energy of solarorigin, the condenser 110 can include, between its first face 112 and asecond face 112A opposite the latter, and arranged in this orderstarting from the first face 112, thermal exchange means 28, energyaccumulating means 29, reflecting means 30. This condenser 110 is alsocapable of containing, between the reflecting means 30 and the secondface 112A, insulating means 31.

The condenser 110 is formed of all or part of these thermal exchangemeans 28, energy accumulating means 29, reflecting means 30, insulatingmeans 31.

Advantageously, the condenser 110 is mounted in a substantially verticalplane and includes, oriented towards the first face 112, a volumeprofile 113, which is designed capable of maximizing the drop shadowfrom the sun in summer under strong incidences with respect to thenormal line of the condenser 110, and to minimize the drop shadow fromthe sun in winter under low incidences with respect to the normal lineof said second receiver.

Preferably, this volume profile 113 includes staggered juxtaposition ofvolumes 32 in the shape of half water drops the bulbous portion of whichis arranged on the side of the floor, as can be seen in FIG. 8.

In a cheap variant embodiment, the condenser 110 is flexible, and cannamely be formed of a volume-shaped textile. This configuration isinteresting if the channel 3 or the panel 1 is a large-size one, thecondenser 110 can be prepared in the form of a reel-wound meters-longweb, and unwound according to the use; this avoids the manufacturing oflarge-size rigid condensers, which are more expensive or/and moredifficult to be made.

Preferably, the energy accumulating means 29 include a honeycombstructure 37 designed capable of containing an accumulating or/andphase-changing material, as can be seen in FIG. 9.

In an alternative, the condenser 110 is made in the form of a deformedplate that includes, on its face facing the second face 112A andopposite the first face 112, these energy accumulating means 29. Thisconfiguration permits a reduction of the number of components andpermits an important weight reduction, in particular when the condenser110 is made out of plastic.

Besides the classical thermal aspect, the invention can also ensurecooling functions.

The thermal-energy regulation can also be complemented with a hygrometryregulation between different environments A and B. The condenser 110 canthen namely be equipped with water circulations, namely through running,or/and with communications between water tanks and dryers orhumidifiers, as the case may be.

If a very rigid configuration is looked for, the second receiver 51 isprovided, on its face oriented towards the first face 2, with volumes inthe shape of half water droplets 32 and, on its opposite face, withhoneycombs 37, so that the meshes of these respective profiles on theopposite faces are staggered with respect to each other.

In a configuration in which all the panels include such insulating means31, each of the elements the cladding device 1 according to theinvention is comprised of can be considered as being insulating.

In a most common application, the first end edge 4 is parallel to andopposite the second end edge 6. Likewise, in a preferred application,the panel 1 has the shape of a rectangular prism, namely of aparallelepiped.

In a variant embodiment, a panel can be fully open on a full side, i.e.of its first face 2 or its second face 10, the channel 3 is then in fullcommunication with the atmosphere of one of its environments A or B.

Preferably, the dimensions of a panel 1 for two dimensions, referred toas width and height, X and Z according to the example of FIG. 1, arelarge compared to the third one, referred to as thickness, according toY in the same example, i.e. each at least five times larger than saidthickness. The flow of the fluid, preferably air, circulating in thechannel 3, is then like a web.

Preferably, the panels 1 or 101 are designed with dimensions and a mass,namely lower than 25 kg, permitting their handling by one man with theforce of his arms. The dimensions of 1500×1000×175 mm are particularlywell-suited for the described applications and permit to maintain thismass limit, when the manufacture of the strips, faces and cross stripsresults from the implementation of plastic materials such as PVC, PA orthe like.

Preferably, the panels 1 according to the invention are juxtaposed so asto form a cladding device 100 for a building, on the frontage or on theroof, including at least two panels 1 with an identical curvaturebetween them, which can be piled up in a vertical direction Z, thechannels 3 of which are communicating. These panels 1 can also bejuxtaposed to each other in a direction X perpendicular to the verticaldirection Z and tangent to the first faces 2 of the panels 1, which canalso be juxtaposed, in another direction Y perpendicular to both thevertical direction Z and the direction X, with other panels 1 of thesame type or with insulation panels 101. When such an insulating panel101 is juxtaposed to an internal communication opening 9 or 14 of apanel 1, then it includes at least one through opening 11 designedcapable of being juxtaposed with this opening.

In brief, the invention permits to create an air volume with aconvective flow over a full cladding surface, namely of a frontage or ofa roof of a building, by means of juxtaposed or/and piled elements,namely each having a mass smaller than 25 kg and dimensions smaller thanor equal to 1500×1000×200 mm, facilitating and reducing the costs oftransport and placing.

The cladding device 100 formed of panels 1 according to the inventionthus permits to achieve at a lesser cost the same convectiveperformances as an outer wall that would be built of one single piece,thus of a difficult and expensive elaboration, requiring highlyqualified staff.

The device according to the invention is also evolutionary, and permitsto change, by permutation or/and removal or/and addition of panels, thetechnical or/and esthetical functionalities of a frontage or a roof.

Of course, the invention is described preferably for the external coverof a building, because of the naturally large temperature differentialbetween the first external environment A and the second internalenvironment B. One understands that the invention is applicable to themanufacture of any wall, even internal to a building, between twoenvironments A and B with different thermal characteristics, for examplebetween offices and factory halls.

Besides the classical thermal aspect, the invention can also ensurecooling functions.

The thermal-energy regulation can also be complemented with a hygrometryregulation between different environments A and B. The channel 3 canthen namely be equipped with water circulations, namely through running,or/and with communications between water tanks and dryers orhumidifiers, as the case may be.

The invention also relates, according to a second embodiment, which maybe combined with the first embodiment, to a device for fixing andtensioning a flexible web 203. The latter is designed capable of forminga perforated first receiver 50, or also designed capable of forming asecond receiver 51, in the event the latter is chosen as being flexible.This flexible web 203 can thus have a technical function, such asabsorption, reflection, filtering, protection, or/and a decorativefunction with decoration bearing media or the like. In addition to apreferred use as a perforated first receiver 50 or/and a second receiver51, such a flexible web 203 can thus also be used to form thermalexchange means 28, or/and energy accumulating means 29, or/andreflecting means 30, or/and insulating means 31.

The placing and replacement of such flexible webs generally requires amechanism integrated into the panel, including reel holders, or/and anunwinder, and means for tensioning by actuating an eccentric bar orroll. Such mechanisms reserve the use of these flexible webs for fixedpanels, with a high mass due to the mechanism they include.

From WO 03/100286 or WO 2006/063991 are also known alternative solutionswithout mechanism, in which a flexible web includes elastic peripheralpiped seams cooperating with grooves a frame in which the web is mountedand tensioned includes, or is also caught by traditional means andtensioning by means of tensioning devices. However, the mounting of theflexible web requires some dexterity and is not well-suited for theparticular conditions related to the equipping of frontage panels or ata high height, subjected to the action of the wind or weatherconditions. In addition, the mounting time is long because of thedifficulty of placing.

These solutions without mechanism in the panel also require maintainingthe flexible web at the four sides, in the case of equipping rectangularpanels.

The invention tries to use lightweight, easily and quickly removablematerials, in order to bring new functionalities to a frontage or to anopening of a building: an appearance varying over the time, a thermalregulation of the temperature in the building, this as easily for boththe renovation of a frontage or an existing opening, through overlayingof applied elements and for the construction of a new external cladding.

The fixing and tensioning of the flexible web 203 are performed restingon at least one first bearing surface 204 and one second bearing surface205, which are located on both sides of an intermediate surface 202,namely a flat surface, in the vicinity of which the flexible web 203 istensioned. Of course, these bearing surfaces 204 and 205, which aredesigned as end bearing surfaces of a length of the flexible web 203unfolded at the level of this intermediate surface 202, are minimalbearing surfaces: the flexible web 203 can also be supported, or atleast limited in its displacement, by intermediate bearing surfaces, notshown in the figures, and intercalated between the surfaces 204 and 205.

Though, in a preferred embodiment, the intermediate surface 202 is flat,other embodiments can of course be foreseen, according to which theflexible web 203 is tensioned according to a deformed shape, for examplewith bearing surfaces 204 and 205 extending in different directions,or/and being tensioned resting on intermediate bearing surfacesdefining, at least partially, the cover of this deformed surface. It isthus possible to implement the invention for any constructiontopography, which permits all architectural fantasies, since the choiceof a flexible web permits, as a matter of fact, a thorough adapting tothe relief, at least as long as the surfaces remain involute. Forparticular areas including non-involute surfaces, the flexible web 203can integrate ad hoc shaped surfaces, for example by molding or thelike.

In particular, the device 201 according to the invention permits totension the flexible web 203 as close as possible to the intermediatesurface 202. One understands that this intermediate surface 202 can beeither a plain surface, as can be seen in FIG. 15, or also, as can beseen in la FIG. 11, an opening delimited by a cut-out in a structure, inparticular a flat structure if the intermediate surface 202 is chosenflat. In the latter case, the flexible web 203 fulfils a particularfunction of closing of the intermediate surface 202.

The invention permits to carry out a low-cost preparation of theflexible web 203 before its placing. In particular, this preparation isrelated to the previous equipment with two opposite end edges. To thisend, the device 201 includes at least one first rod 210 and at least onesecond rod 211, each designed capable of immobilizing the flexible web203 at a first end edge 208, respectively at a second end edge 209.These rods 210 and 211 can adopt different forms. They are preferablymade each in the form of a profile bar, including a slot or a groove foraccommodating the end of the flexible web 203. The holding of the lattercan occur in different ways: by clamping or pinching a rod, which isthen elastic, by sewing, gluing, hot sealing, heat-welding, crimping, orthe like. The flexible web 203 can also be held in its recess by acomplementary part having a simple shape such as a wedge or a straightrod. All these technologies are very easy to be implemented, and it ispossible to equip a large-width flexible web, for example of two meters,without any particular problem. In the case of a large-size flexible web203, it can be provided, at each of its end edges 208, 209, with asuccession of rods 210, respectively 211, whereby these successive rodscan be hingedly connected to each other, like tubular tent masts made offiberglass or carbon fibers, which represent a technology particularlyadapted to this case.

Advantageously, the first 210 or/and the second rod 211 also includes,at least at one end, an extraction organ, such as a ring, a hook or thelike, designed capable of facilitating the removal of the la flexibleweb 203.

In a preferred embodiment, as can be seen in FIGS. 11 through 17, thedevice 201 includes a structure comprised of at least a first strip 212and a second strip 214. At the level of the first strip 212, a firstgroove 213 extends in a substantially longitudinal direction D1.Likewise, at the level of the second strip 214, a second groove 215extends in a substantially longitudinal second direction D2. This firstgroove 213 and this second groove 215 are each designed capable ofreceiving over their full length the first rod 210 or the second rod211.

Advantageously, in the event the flexible web 203 has to be mounted in adetermined direction, reverse or obverse, up or down, right or left,each groove can be designed so as to accept the cooperation with onlyone single type of rod, for example with a positioning guide such as aflat surface or the like, or also with a determined dimension, namelydiameter, for the rod and the recess designed capable of receiving it.

The first groove 213, respectively the second groove 215, is alsoprovided, at a first inlet end 220, respectively at a second inlet end221, with first insertion means 216, respectively with second insertionmeans 217, by which the rods bearing the flexible web 203 are insertedin direction D1, respectively in the direction D2.

According to the invention, the first insertion means 216, or/andrespectively said second insertion means 217 include a first channel 224designed capable of receiving the first rod 210, respectively a secondchannel 225 designed capable of receiving the second rod 211, and theyalso include a first ramp 218, respectively a second ramp 219, designedcapable of serving as a bearing surface for the flexible web 203provided with the first rod 210 and the second rod 211.

A slot permits the flexible web 203 to come out of the first groove 213or the second groove 215, in order to by-pass the ramp 218 or 219, asthe case may be.

The first ramp 218, respectively second ramp 219, has a cross-sectionincreasing in the direction of insertion of the rod 210 or 211, betweenthe first entry end 220, respectively the second entry end 221, and amedian zone 222 of the first groove 213, respectively a median zone 223of the second groove 215, so as to be capable of tensioning the flexibleweb 203 during the insertion of the first rod 210 into the first channel224 and of the second rod 211 into the second channel 225.

In an advantageous variant, as can be seen in FIG. 16, the first ramp218, respectively the second ramp 219, is made out of elastic material,in order to exert on the flexible web 203, mounted resting on said ramp218 or 219, a tensioning force.

Preferably, the first channel 224, respectively the second channel 225,extends until an end stop 207 designed capable of stopping the first rod210, respectively the second rod 211.

The first ramp 218, respectively the second ramp 219, is preferablyformed of a truncated sector with an axis parallel to the firstdirection D1, respectively to the second direction D2. This shape, oralso the skew shape with increasing cross-section of a variant shown inFIG. 15, is, in the preferred case of an embodiment made out of plastic,capable of being injected into a simple mold.

One understands that one ramp on one side of the flexible web 203 isenough to ensure its tensioning. However, the solution in which thefirst groove 213 and the second groove 215 are each provided with a ramp218, and 219 is preferred. This configuration namely permits to usestrips 212 and 214 made out of lightweight materials, such as plasticmaterials, while having sufficient elasticity to carry out a goodtensioning of the flexible web 203, even when the latter is formed of arigid material, such as a grid.

Preferably, the first channel 224, respectively the second channel 225,is thus made out of an elastic material and has a cross-section at restsmaller than that of the first rod 210, respectively of the second rod211, so as to exert a clamping force on the latter.

In a preferred embodiment, as can be seen in FIG. 12, the first channel224, respectively the second channel 225, is open according to ageneratrix on which rests substantially radially a first wing 226,respectively a second wing 227, made out of an elastic material anddesigned capable of serving as a bearing surface for the flexible web203 and of exerting onto the latter a tensioning force. The pretensionaction during the insertion of the flexible web 203 into the device 201is thus complemented with means for maintaining under tension formed bythe elastic wings 226 and 227. The latter also permit to compensate forthe dilatations of thermal nature or the like.

Since, in order to simplify the placing of the flexible web 203, onlytwo sides of the latter are equipped, the device 201 can advantageouslybe arranged to ensure a regular tension over the whole surface, and toavoid any wrinkling effect. To this end, in a preferred embodiment, ascan be seen in FIG. 17, the first channel 224, respectively the secondchannel 225, includes a curvature 230, respectively 231, bringing itsmedian area closer to the intermediate surface 202 located between saidfirst strip 212 and said second strip 214, substantially parallel to theintermediate surface 202, and namely in a plane parallel to thisintermediate surface 202 when the latter is chosen flat. Thus, in thecase of placing a flexible web 203 with a rectangular shape when flat,the latter is tensioned by its four corners, close to the stop zones ofthe rods and the insertion zones of the latter.

Likewise, the first wing 226, respectively the second wing 227,advantageously includes a curvature 230A, respectively 231A, bringingits median zone closer to the intermediate surface 202 located betweensaid first strip 212 and said second strip 214, substantially parallelto the intermediate surface 202, and into a plane parallel to that ofthis intermediate surface 202 when the latter is chosen flat.

In a variant embodiment, a similar effect can be achieved acting on thecross-section or the thickness of the channels 224 and 225, or/and ofthe wings 226 and 227, which are thicker in the median zone, in order toobtain a tension differential between the median zone and the end zones,i.e. the stop zone and the insertion zone of each rod. Thus, the firstwing 226, respectively the second wing 227, has a larger thickness inthe median zone, so as to be capable of generating a tensiondifferential between the median zone and the end zones, i.e. the stopzone and the insertion of each rod.

Preferably, the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 arestraight lines. Preferably, the first direction D1 and the seconddirection D2 are parallel. Preferably, the intermediate surface 202 isflat.

The rods 210 and 211 can, as the case may be, be rigid or flexible.

Of course, the way of mounting can be different at both ends, wherebyone of them can consist of a simple slot into which is inserted theflexible web 203, provided with stop means on this slot, such as a hemincorporating a rod or the like.

This way of mounting according to the invention permits a very simpleprefabrication, at a very low cost, of a flexible web 203, andguarantees its perfect mounting onto a building structure, with a veryeasy and efficient tensioning.

It is thus possible, at a very low cost, to successively arrange, fromthe outside to the inside of the building, substantially parallel toeach other so as to be able to delimit air-circulation conduits, severalflexible webs 203 each having one or several particular functionalities:external appearance of the building, perforated first receiver 50,second receiver 51, condenser 110, thermal exchange means 28, energyaccumulating means 29, reflecting means 30, insulating means 31.

Flexible webs 203 and rigid structures, for example photovoltaic panelsforming the second receiver 5 can also be conjugated. Photovoltaic cellsare present on the market on a flexible support, and can be arranged onunwinders-rewinders in order to be unfolded on request for producingelectric energy. However, the present supports do not permit allcurvatures, and the present supports cannot be tensioned for adaptingthem to a particular deformed shape.

In a very simple version of frontage or renovation cladding, on thestructure of the building, or on an existing cladding covering it can beoverlaid commercially available boxes or shells, for example <<MD®>>shells from <<ArcelorMittal®>>, forming the second receiver 51, and at adistance from the latter can be installed, so as to form an internalchannel 3, a device 201 provided with a flexible web 203 forming theperforated first receiver 50, in particular in the form of a textileincluding perforations or orifices for the passing through of air or/andlight.

It is of course possible, in the first as well as in the secondembodiment, to form several juxtaposed channels 3 delimited byintermediate webs.

In a more elaborated version, the second receiver 51 is formed of acondenser 110, in particular in its version including profiles havingthe shape of half water droplets 32 on its face oriented towards theoutside of the building, and honeycomb profiles 37 on its face orientedtowards the interior of the building.

Though the invention permits, in a particular embodiment, the design ofpanels easy to be handled by one man, easy to be juxtaposed and ensuringthe continuity of an internal channel 3, it also permits the design ofdevices for positioning and tensioning flexible webs 203, and inparticular over large sizes, for example over the height of a buildingand in one single strip. Indeed, a device 201 as described above can beadapted indifferently for the equipment of a modular hollow panel 1, orfor a complete frontage or opening of a building.

In any case, it is important to adapt the cross-section S of theinternal channel 3 formed between the perforated first receiver 50 andthe second receiver 51 with respect to the surface S′ formed by theperforations or/and orifices of the perforated first receiver. Ofcourse, the calculation of the load losses differs depending on whetherthe air is, in the internal channel 3, in free convection or in forcedconvection, and also depends on the other equipment installed in thisinternal channel 3 and on the nature of the walls of the latter. Goodresults are achieved with a S/S′ radio between 0.5 and 2, and preferablybetween 0.8 and 1.2.

Preferably, the S/S′ ratio increases with the altitude in the particularcase in which a device sucking or extracting air from the channel 3 isinstalled in the uppermost portion of the latter with respect to thefloor. One can thus act either on the cross-section S of the conduitwidening as it moves up or on the cross-section S′ of the perforatedfirst receiver 50, or on both in combination. In the event one wants toact on the cross-section S′, one can chose to butt strips with differentperforation openings, or also, in a simpler and cheaper way, whilekeeping the same structure of the perforated receiver 50, namely aflexible web 203 upwards, but hiding part of it varying according to thealtitude, for example, simply with a mask in the form of a triangularnon-perforated strip overlaid on this perforated first receiver 50.

The use of flexible and removable webs in the building industry hasnumerous advantages: reduced cost, small mass, and therefore reducedhazard in the event of a fall on the building site, very simplepreparation, small volume in wound-up form and, hence, cheap transportand lifting, very easy placing, easy removal and replacing, easyrecovering and recycling.

In brief, the invention provides means for cladding a frontage or anopening of a building with a perforated first receiver 50, which is bothremovable and flexible. This perforated first receiver 50, in the formof a flexible web 203, is, in a preferred embodiment, removable for tworeasons: the flexible web 203 is tensioned between two bearing surfaces204 and 205, either at the level of the whole of a frontage or anopening, or at the level of a panel 1 that is an element a structure 100of this frontage or this opening is comprised of. This flexible web 203is, in all cases, easily removable from the recesses arranged on bothsides of these bearing surfaces 204 and 205. When it is arranged at thelevel of a panel 1 forming a module, it benefits from the removabilityof the latter, and is therefore removable in two ways: either with thepanel module 1 itself or out of the recesses arranged on the latter.Thus, the perforated receiver 50 can be changed from the bottom or fromthe top of a frontage or an opening. It can also be fixed to a frameformed by a panel 1 or applied against a panel 1, or to a frame fixed tothe frontage or the opening involved.

In the version in which such a flexible web 203 is placed over the fullheight, or also over the full width, of a frontage or of an opening, infront of a plurality of panels 1 or cladding elements, it can be mountedthrough-going, if these panels or cladding elements themselves includean external surface that is for example translucent, glazed or made ofpolycarbonate or the like, or if they include on their external faceanother perforated first receiver 50. The flexible web 203 is thentensioned in an internal channel 3 formed behind this external surfacethe panels or the cladding elements include. It is preferable tensionedbetween two bearing surfaces 204 and 205 arranged at the ends of thefrontage or opening to be clad.

Preferably, this first receiver 50 formed of a flexible web has solarregulation functions, so as to optimize its thermal performance. Thus,it can for example be chosen white and reflecting in summer, and blackand absorbing in winter.

Advantageously, if one wants to re-use an existing cladding withoutremoving it, or use commercially available cladding panels or boxeswithout any particular function, the use of another flexible web 203,mounted at a distance from the first one, to form the second receiver51, and the internal channel 3 separating it from the first receiver 50permits a very quick equipping at low cost, without requiring neither ascaffolding nor heavy handling material such as a crane: a simple basketis enough for placing one or several devices 201 for holding andtensioning as many flexible webs 203. The latter can then either beinserted from an upper end, dropped for their unfolding, then fixed fortheir tensioning at a lower end, or presented in the form of a roll 65from the bottom of the frontage or the opening. In this case, this rollis pushed with a tool 64 permitting to present it at the level of itsupper recess 66. This tool 64 can be either removable or remainintegrated into the frontage, namely arranged in the side recesses thecladding structure includes, or inside guiding means 61 designed toserve as guiding means for this roll during its placing, as can be seenin FIG. 22.

In a variant embodiment, as can be seen in FIG. 23, the flexible web 203is mounted on a deformable frame 75, constituting an alternative device201 for fixing and tensioning a flexible web, designed capable ofcooperating with side guides 61, or slides, a structure 100 of panels 1or 69 includes, or which are overlaid on the frontage or opening of thebuilding. In a simple version of embodiment, this deformable frame 75includes two end reinforcements 76 each bearing one end of the flexiblestrip. Each of these end reinforcements 76 cooperates, at each of itsends, with a deformable side reinforcement 77. Preferably, this sidereinforcement 77 includes segments 78, for example of fiberglass orcarbon glass, hinged to each other, and including, at the level of eachjoint, springy restoring means designed capable of ensuring andmaintaining the alignment of the segments 78 between each other, whenthe last segments 78 are pushed into this alignment position, inparticular resting on the side guides 61. It is thus possible to insertinto the guiding means 61 an upper end reinforcement 76, with a firstsegment 78 on either side, the other segments being folded onto eachother and forming a bundle at the level of the operator. The latter thenunfolds a second segment 78 on each side, lays it in the guide 61 inalignment with the preceding one, and so on, mounts the completedeformable frame 75, which adopts a rectangular shape when it is ready.The laying in the guide 61 of the very last segment 78 associated to theother lower end reinforcement 76 ensures the tensioning of the flexibleweb 203. This deformable frame 75 can, thanks to the use of lightweighttubular materials, such as those used in fishing equipment or formanufacturing antennas or masts, remain of a very small mass, in therange of one or a few kilograms, even for a large unfolded length of theflexible web 203, for example a frontage height of several floors.

In another variant embodiment, the flexible web 203 is formed of severalsegments, each tensioned over a deformable frame 85, designed capable ofcooperating with such guides 61. This deformable frame 85, constitutinganother variant of the device 201 for fixing and tensioning a flexibleweb, includes, as can be seen in FIGS. 24 and 25, two end reinforcements86 each bearing one end of the flexible strip 203. Each of these endreinforcements 86 cooperates, at each of its ends, with an elasticallydeformable side reinforcement 87. Thus, before insertion into the guides61, a substantially rectangular structure is formed, but two sides ofwhich are curved under the effect of the tensioning of the flexible web,which buttresses the side reinforcements 87, as can be seen in FIG. 24.When this structure is inserted into the guides 61, the latter aredimensioned so as to be capable of resting on these side reinforcements86, in order to straighten them, which increases furthermore thetensioning of the flexible web, as can be seen in FIG. 25. It is enoughto slide this structure into the guides 61 to put it in place at thedesired level. In order to facilitate the removal and extraction ofthese structures, namely in order to change their flexible web 203, eachframe 85 includes, at a first end, driving means 88, which are designedcapable of cooperating with complementary driving means 89, which asecond end of another frame 85 of the same type is provided with, as canbe seen in FIGS. 26 and 27. The cooperation between the means 88 and 89can occur in a hinged way, for example with a finger or catchcooperating with a bore or a complementary recess, or the like. Thiscooperation of the means 88 and 89 permits to form a chain, which ismovable both in compression and in traction. Advantageously, the means88 and 89 also form shoes for sliding in the guides 61. Preferably,means 88 and 89 are installed on both sides of the flexible strip 203,as can be seen in the figures.

The superposition of several flexible webs 203, as can be seen in FIG.18, permits, on the one hand, to act on the size of the perforatedsurface and, on the other hand, to act on the behavior of energyreflection or absorption. It also permits to change the appearance ofthe frontage or opening.

It is also possible to arrange, as can be seen in the example of FIGS.18 through 20, externally to the perforated first receiver 50, atranslucent panel 60 such as a glazed, polycarbonate panel or the like.In the preferred case of a polycarbonate panel 60, the latter canadvantageously be formed so as to create one or several side guidingmeans 61, such as grooves or the like, for guiding a flexible web 203constituting the perforated first receiver 50. In the case of atranslucent panel 60 recovering a box or a hollow panel 1 according tothe example of FIG. 20, the guiding occurs by sides 67 the panel 60 thenincludes to enclose the panel 1 or the box on which it rests. In thepreferred application of a fully modular cladding structure 100,incorporating hollow panels 1 as described above, or/and also boxes ofthe business, namely boxes made out of sheet material, it isadvantageous to design the translucent panels 60 also in a modular form.In a particular embodiment, these panels include a first end 62 designedcapable of cooperating through encasement with a second end 63, oppositethe first end 62, of another panel 60 of the same type. In a cheapembodiment, the panel 60 has a trapezoidal shape, the bases of which areformed by the ends 62 and 63, as can be seen in FIG. 21. The folding ofthe polycarbonate according to straight edges is easy, for forming sucha shape, complemented with additional folds on the skew faces 68 of thetrapeze in order to form guides 61. Advantageously, a panel 60 ismounted so as to overlap the one located below it, in order to avoid thepenetration of the weather features. This encasement neverthelesspermits to provide an air passageway between these two panels 60, whichcan be advantageous in order to avoid condensation.

The example of FIG. 18 includes hollow panels 1, or/and boxes of thebusiness 69, which include at a first end 70 bearing means 71 designedcapable of cooperating with receiving means 73 a second end 72 ofanother box 69 or another panel 1 located above same includes. Ofcourse, the surface 74 of these panels 1 or boxes 69, oriented towardsthe first environment A, can constitute a second receiver 51. It isfurthermore possible to improve the thermal behavior of this surface 74by applying a selective coating, such as black paint, surface treatment,re-facing, or the like. FIG. 18 shows the case in which the secondreceiver 51 is formed of a condenser 110, namely also formed of aflexible web unwound in the internal channel 3.

In the case of large-length flexible webs 203, it is advantageous tostiffen them, for example by reinforcing them with busks such asfiberglass rods or the like, regularly spaced, for example by one meter,and arranged parallel to the floor.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. Hollow panel being fixed to a structure of abuilding, and reactive to thermal radiation, comprising: at least oneinternal fluid-circulation channel, namely air channel, between a firstface being oriented towards a first environment and a second face beingoriented towards a second environment and extending between a firstopening located at a first end edge and a second opening located at asecond end edge, the internal channel extending between at least aperforated first receiver being exposed to thermal radiation on the sideof said first face and at least a second air-tight receiver on the sideof said second face and formed by a condenser, wherein said firstreceiver and the condenser are comprised of a flexible web.
 22. Panelaccording to claim 21, wherein the condenser comprises athermal/exchange means or energy accumulating means or a reflecting meanor an insulating means or a combination thereof.
 23. Panel according toclaim 22, further comprising: an insulating means between the reflectingmeans and said second face.
 24. Panel according to claim 21, wherein thefirst receiver or the second receiver can receive a coating comprised ofnano-scale titanium oxide TiO2, or another catalyst capable of promotingthe transformation of the so-called COV volatile organic compounds intoinoffensive elements, or also CO into CO2, or NO into NO2.
 25. Panelaccording to claim 21, further comprising: at least one skew opening,between said channel and said second face, which is so dimensioned as topermit the passing through of a portion smaller than the flow rate ofthe fluid circulating in said channel.
 26. Panel according to claim 21,further comprising: a first strip at a first end edge, respectively, asecond strip at a second end edge, respectively, and a first bearing andguiding means, respectively and a second bearing and guiding meanspermitting its assembling through piling with another hollow panel, anda bearing and tightness surface, respectively, for tightly juxtaposingthe first opening, respectively the second opening, of said panel, withsaid second opening, respectively said first opening, of an adjacentpanel.
 27. Panel according to claim 26, further comprising: a four-sidedperipheral structure, serving as a bearing surface for said first faceand second face, wherein said first strip and said second strip areunited, at the level of their ends, by a first and a second side crossstrip, and wherein said first strip, respectively said second strip,comprises a first bearing surface, respectively a second bearingsurface, cooperating with hoop means for closing or/and fixing saidperipheral structure.
 28. Panel according to claim 21, wherein thecondenser is mounted in a substantially vertical plane, the condensercomprising: a volume profile, on a first face being oriented towards thesolar radiation and maximizing drop shadow of the sun in summer understrong incidences with respect to the normal line of said secondreceiver, and of minimizing the drop shadow of the sun in winter underweak incidences with respect to the normal line of said condenser. 29.Panel according to claim 28, wherein said volume profile comprises astaggered juxtaposition of volumes in the shape of half water dropletsthe bulbous portion of which is arranged on the side of the floor. 30.Panel according to claim 28, further comprising: an energy accumulatingmeans, on a second face opposite the first face, the energy accumulatingmeans being comprised of a honeycomb structure containing anaccumulating or/and phase-changing material.
 31. Panel according toclaim 21, further comprising: a means for fixing and tensioning, restingon a first bearing surface and a second bearing surface located on bothsides of an intermediate surface, a flexible web forming the firstreceiver and/or the condenser.
 32. Panel according to claim 21, whereinthe intermediate surface is plain.
 33. Panel according to claim 31,wherein said means comprises at least one first rod and at least onesecond rod, each immobilizing said flexible web at a first end edge,respectively at a second end edge, said means comprising: a firstgroove, at the level of a first strip, extending in a substantiallylongitudinal first direction, and a second groove at the level of asecond strip, extending in a substantially longitudinal seconddirection, said first groove and second groove being each designedcapable of receiving over full length said first rod or said second rod.34. Panel according to claim 21, further comprising: a means for fixingand tensioning a flexible web forming the first receiver and/or thecondenser in the form of a deformable frame, being comprised of two endreinforcement, each reinforcement bearing one end of said flexible web,each of these end reinforcements cooperating, at each of its ends, withan elastically deformable side reinforcement cooperating with a bearingsurface of a guide, for straightening and increasing the tension of saidflexible web.
 35. Panel according to claim 21, wherein a translucentpanel such as a glazed, polycarbonate panel or the like is arrangedexternally to the perforated first receiver.